Freely: Revolutionising Free UK TV for the Digital Streaming Era

The primary public service broadcasters in the UK are joining forces to revolutionise free television for the digital streaming era. They are collaborating on the development of a new service that will enable users to watch live TV channels and on-demand content via the internet on their smart TVs.

Forefront of the streaming age

This pioneering move places the distribution of free TV at the forefront of the streaming age. The new service aims to offer millions of households that rely only on broadband access the opportunity to enjoy a unified and seamless experience of live, free TV over IP. Using a modern and user-friendly programme guide, viewers will be able to effortlessly browse through channels and discover new shows directly from live TV.

Scheduled to launch in 2024, the service, named Freely, will come pre-installed on the next generation of smart TVs. It will showcase a selection of content from public service broadcasters and other free-to-air channels, delivering an experience reminiscent of traditional terrestrial TV. Freely builds upon the well-established and popular Freeview TV platform, currently present in 16 million homes. Live television still accounts for more than fifty percent of all viewing in the United Kingdom. Live broadcasts account for an average of 57% of viewing time per person per day across all devices.

New phase of Free TV

As audiences continue to embrace online content consumption, this new phase of free TV focuses on ensuring the widespread availability of live channels from public service broadcasters in the streaming age. It aligns with the objectives of the draft Media Bill, which emphasises provisions for on-demand and streaming visibility.

The development of Freely is being undertaken by Everyone TV, the organisation responsible for overseeing free TV in the UK. It is jointly owned by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5.

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